Overview of Lake Shinji – 宍道湖
 

Named ‘Shinji-ko’ in Japanese, Lake Shinji is Matsue’s foremost symbol as the “City of Water”. It is the seventh largest lake in Japan, with a circumference of about 45 km (28 miles), making it 16 km from east to west, and 8.5 km from north to south. Lake Shinji is known throughout Japan because of its spectacular scenery, in particular that of the sunset as it sets over the lake. You can enjoy a view of Lake Shinji from the top of Matsue Castle, or the observatory floor by Shirakata Park.


Shinji is a brackish lake, a combination of both salt and fresh water, due to the flow of sea-water into the lake via Lake Nakaumi. Nakaumi, located east of Matsue, is the fifth largest lake nationwide. Home to a wide variety of fish and clam species, and one of the largest wintering spots for waterfowl in Japan, Lake Shinji and Nakaumi together are designated as a Ramsar Site of Wetlands of International Importance (since 2006).
 [More info about Nakaumi in Daikon-shima Island]


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